Pretoria – In a recent discussion between Rwanda National Congress secretary general on the African continent, Mr Kennedy Gihana and the ICC Chief Prosecutor Ms Fatou Bensouda, it is clear that the gross human rights violation committed in the DRC with the support of the Rwandan dictator ( Paul Kagame) is high on the ICC agenda.
“ We do one investigation at a time, We have completed the investigations and indicted General Bosco Ntaganda after we convicted Lubanga. We will investigate any body any where regardless their positions. At this stage I can not say whom we are investigating or considering to investigate”. Said Fatou Bensouda
When asked why the ICC has not used the same principles that were used to successfully prosecute former Liberian President (Charles Taylor) she reiterated that “if the tribunal for DRC crimes was to be created today, we could arrest Kagame as I speak”.
“Am real disturbed by the Amnesty International report and other reports coming out of Rwanda about crime against humanity including torture, extra judicial killings, secret detentions of civilians in the hands of military institutions”. Said Fatou Bensouda.
The government of Rwanda, led by Paul Kagame, continues to deny her involvement in the DRC conflicts after several reports by UN group of experts and many rights groups has proved it to be the case. Meanwhile innocent Congolese and young men from Rwanda are subjected to fight for unknown causes.
The leadership of RNC assured her of their support of the work of ICC to help bring justice to the people or Rwanda and the DRC.
B.M Rwarinda
Your title and what she said are two different things. I dont know if it is a problem of english that u have.
Bensouda’s statement could not be any clearer. There is no more room for criminals in modern African politics. The ICC has come to punish mass murderers and deter those with evil intentions. Now forget about Kagame’s childish self-aggrandisement, forget about tall buildings, forget about streets bordered with palm trees, the real deal is in millions of deaths and unimaginable suffering accross the Great Lakes Region. Bensouda is bringing hope to millions of victims in Rwanda, DRC, Uganda and Burundi whose lives are a perpetual nighmare, caused by the Rwandan dictator. Countless of innocent citizens live in constant fear in as far as Europe, America and even Australia just because of this madman. It was about time the world stood and paid attention because the devastation this man caused will beat all Guiness records for many centuries to come. Books will be written, Hollywood movies will be played and academics and historians will find themselves extra busy not thanks to polished sidewalks, executive jets or luxury hotel rooms, but because of the incredible amount of blood spilled by this man since the eighties. Now, should Bensouda decide to push forward her plan to arrest, investigate and prosecute Kagame, will Rwandans be ready to give her a hand by clearly distancing themselves from him? Is the army ready to ease Rwandans’ pain by refusing Kagame’s orders? Are opposition parties ready to put aside their petty differences and work hand in hand to avoid confusion amongst the population? Are we ready to say no to any sort of extremism to avoid a repeat of 1994? If we’re not ready to answer these questions, Bensouda’s move might prove to be a ticking bomb, and Kagame’s prosecution might bring about effects contrary to those expected.